Centering device



Patented lune 26, i923.

LEONHARID J. ROSBACH, F BRCOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' CENTERING DEVICE.

Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,838.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LnoNHAnD J. Bosnien, a citizen of the United States oi America, residing at the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in @entering Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a centering device, and particularly to a tool for aligning or truing machine centers. The object of my invention is to provide a simple, rugged and serviceable appliance which, upon engagement between the centers, serves, by its indications, to disclose the relation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a broken plan of a tool in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with cover plate removed, and showing the indicator elements in different position and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the tool.

While the invention is susceptible ot' embodiment in various modified Jforms, I have shown it as a handy bench tool, comprising a rugged, generally cylindrical body member 5 adapted to be interposed between coned lathe members 6 and 7 of the usual type used in metal working. These centers have'the standard cone shape universal in lathes of diderent makes. and the present tool, which cooperates with these centers, is thus substantially universal. in its utility for all machines having such centers.

As is common in machines of this type, one of the centers, 6, is fixed, while the other center, 7, is adjustable both longitudinally and transversely of the machine bed. The alignment of these centers has been a more or less tedious operation, and repeated tests have generally been required before exact adjustment is secured. The present device provides a tool which may be readily secured between the centers, after which the movable center 7 is adjusted into alignmentwith the fixed center 6 in accordance with the indications on the tool.

To receive the center 6 of the machine, the body member 5 is'socke'ted at one end at 8 to receive a closely fitting plug 9 having a cone bearing 10, in which the center 6 eX- actly fits. This plug 9 is preferably cushioned in the socket 8 against a spring 11 in r order that a certain amount of play may be permitted' without injury to the tool when the adjustable center 7 is moved up into engage'ment with it. A retaining pin 12 worknig in a groove 13 in the plug prevents the escape of the latter from the socket v'8. While the center bearing 10 need not be cushioned, I prefer the spring supported plug construction indicated by reason of the Ea'ctor of safety thereby provided against injury to the tool during use.

A bearing for the adjustable lathe center 7 is provided at the opposite end of the tool by a floating plug 14, similarly coned at 15 to form a socket in which precisely fits the coned end of the center 7. The plug 14 is accommodated in a counterbore 16 in the body of the tool, and is pivoted therein on a vertical axis between the stud bearing 17 and the' adjustable bearing pin 18.

The indicator mechanism is mounted in a channel 19 cut in the upper face of the body 5 and communicating with an incline 20 on which are cut the graduations 21. Traveling over this scale is a needle pointer 22 engaged by an intermediate lever 23, which in turn is engaged by an arm 24 rigid with the Heating plug 14. In the construction shown the pointer 22 is carried by a hub 25 having centers 26 and 27 on which it is pivoted. The center 27 engages an adjustable bearing 28. Coiled around the hub and engaging the same at one end is a coil spring 29, the opposite end of which is gripped by a clamp pin 30 driven into a hole in the body 5. This spring is normally under slight tension, suiiicient to shift the pointer 22 to the position indicated in Fig. 1; that is to say, out of the position which' it occupies when the centers 6 and 7 are aligned. On the opposite side of its axis the pointer is provided with a lug 31 freely engaged on one side by the lever 23. The latter is pivoted at 32 eccentrically on an adjusting disk 33, which is secured by the screw 34 in fixed position on the base when the parts have been properly adjusted for accurate aligning indication. On the opposite side of its axis is a lug 35 freely engaged bythe arm 24 of the floating plug 14.

In order to adjust the pointer 22 in' exact position for center alignment indication, it .is only necessary to place the tool between two properly aligned centers and to rotate the disk 33 until the incidentally changed position of the lever 23 brings the pointer 22 into precise position with relation to the zero mark of the scale. The

plug 14 in its counter-bore 16.

tool is now trued for proper indication and the disk may be fixed in position by setting down hard the screw 34.

In order to house-in the levers, l provide a cover plate 36 seated on ledges 37 on opposite sides of the channel 19 and secured in position by screvvs 38, which take into suitable holes 39 tapped in the body 5 ot the tool. This plate is also provided, preferably, with an end Flange e0 corresponding to the end contour of the body and serving` to house-in the floating The adjustable center 'i' has access to the cone seat in the plugV through the large port il in the end flange. As a matter of convenience Itorm bearings on the inner face of the cover plate tor the center 2G of the indicator lever 22, While the center 17 Jfor the lioatinn' plug is mounted in the cover by a drive fit. Should there be any tendency to bind at these bearings when the cover piece is secured in position, the adjustable bearings 18 and'28 take care of this condition.

The toolnormally assumes the' position shown in Fig'. 1. In operation it is placed against the fixed center 6, and the movable center 7 is then brought up into engagement with the lfloatingplug 14E. This engagement should be snug, and this is rendered' possible Without injury to the tool by the slidingf `block 9. In Fig. 1 the adjustablel center 7 is,shovvn (in full lines) out ot alignment with the xed center 16. When the center 7 has been socketed in the seat ot the floating; plug 14E, its non-alignment with the xed center 6 will cause the indicator to swing` to the opposite ends of the scale (as'indicated in dotted line in Fig'. 1.) By transverse adjustment of the center 7 on the machine bed. however, the lever system 24, 23 and-22 Will be brought to the position shovvn in Fig'. 2, in which the pointer registers with the Zero mark. In this position the centers are aligned and the tool may be removed. Y

If it is desired to ascertain Whether or not the iixed center 6 is running perfectly true, the tool may be reversed in position and the center 6 rotated. Ifit is not *running true it lWill cause the floating' plug` 14- to oscillate, and this Will be indicated by the pointer 22.` The center G may be then ground until` upon retest, the pointer holds its position Without vibration while the center lis rotated. f

It Will of course be understood that the connections between the ioating` socket and the pointer lmay be of any suitable character. The lever-system shown is lgood be# 'cause the spring 29 insures against lost motion between the levers. While at the same time affording free play,`and the magnii-'ying action ot the levers renders the tool sensitive to slight angular variations, or,

angular positions of the Heating socket 14. Similarly the particular method of mounting` the levers may be varied in different Ways, and the cover 'plate may be substif tuted by some other construction.

Various other modifications Will occur to those skilled in the art in addition to those abovev suggested, Without departing from What l lclaim as my invention.

1. ln a centering tool, a. supporting trame,` a center receiving socket at one end thereof. a second center receiving socket'mounted 'for angular displacement at the other end of the Jframe and having` a socket recess extending across the axis ot the socket support, together with indicating means actuated by the movement of said angular-ly displaceable socket.

2. A centering tool comprising a tra-me, a center receivingsocket at one end thereof cushioned to permit longitudinal displacement thereoi, but held against angular InoVe ment, and a second center receiving socket mounted at the other end of the trame and anggularly displaceable vWith relation to said cushioned socket, in combination Withindie cater means associated with said angularly' displaceable socket.

8. A centering` tool comprising a frame, a pair ot' oppositely faced center receiving sockets therein adapted to axial aligmnent, one oit said sockets being angularly displaceable With relation to the other and having its socket recess extending across the axis of its support, in combination with an indicator device associated With said angularly .dis-l placeable socket and serving lto indicate the axial alignment ot said sockets.

4l. A centering tool .comprising a frame, .a pair of oppositely facedy center receiving sockets arranged at opposite endsot the frame and adapted to axial alignment, one of said sockets being angularly displaceab'le with relation to the other, means for holding said angularly displaceable socket normally out of axial alignment with the .other socket, in combination vvith an indicator device associated with said angularly displaceable socket and serving to indicate the axial ali `Qfnment ot said sockets.

5. A centering tool comprising a frame, -a centering` receiving socket angular-ly displaceable in said frame. an indicator lever operatively associated with said socket, a c0- operating center-receiving socket in the. trame, and spring means biasing said lever in one direction.

-6. A. centering" tool comprising a frame, a center-receiving socket therein fixed against angular displacement, a. cooperating oppo ysitely-taced center-receiving socket susceptible ot angular displacement in the frame, means associated with said angularly displaceable socket for indicating the axial alignment of said socket, and spring means biasing said indicator means and associated socket out of socket-aligned position.

7. In a centering tool, a support, a centerreceiving socket fulcrumed in said support7 and having a center-receiving recess extending across the fulcrum axis of the socket.

8. A centering tool comprising a frame, a centerereceiving Socket Julcrumed on said frame, an indicator lever system mounted on said 'frame and associated With said socket, said lever system comprising a pivoted lever,

and a pivoted support for said lever, said support being pivoted on an axis eccentric to the lever axis, for the purpose set forth.

9. A centering tool comprising a frame, a` center-receiv1ng socket fulcrumed on saldl frame, a multiplying lever system mounted in said frame and operatively associated with said socket, and spring means preventing lost motion between the elements of said lever system.

` 10. A centering tool comprising a casing, and mounted inone end thereof a spring supported plug having a center-receiving recess, together with `means for holding said plug against escape and against angular displacement with respect to the casing in combination With an angularly displaceable center-receiving member mounted in said frame for axial alignment with the center recess in said spring-supported plug, and means operatively associated with the angularly displaceable center-receiving member for indieating the axial alignment of said centerreceiving recesses. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

